Drug
Hydrocodone-Ibuprofen
Pronounced
"hye-droe-KOE-done eye-byou-PRO-fen"
Uses
This combination medication is used for a short time (usually less than 10 days) to help relieve moderate to severe pain. It contains an opioid pain reliever (hydrocodone) and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-NSAID (ibuprofen). Hydrocodone works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain. Ibuprofen reduces pain and fever.
This medication is not intended to treat long-term conditions (such as arthritis).
Warning
Hydrocodone/ibuprofen has a risk for abuse and addiction, which can lead to overdose and death. Hydrocodone/ibuprofen may also cause severe, possibly fatal, breathing problems. To lower your risk, your doctor should have you take the smallest dose of hydrocodone/ibuprofen that works, and take it for the shortest possible time. See also How to Use section for more information about addiction.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should have naloxone available to treat opioid overdose. Teach your family or household members about the signs of an opioid overdose and how to treat it.
The risk for severe breathing problems is higher when you start this medication and after a dose increase, or if you take the wrong dose/strength. Taking this medication with alcohol or other drugs that can cause drowsiness or breathing problems may cause very serious side effects, including death. Also, other medications can affect the removal of hydrocodone/ibuprofen from your body, which may affect how hydrocodone/ibuprofen works. Be sure you know how to take hydrocodone/ibuprofen and what other drugs you should avoid taking with it. See also Drug Interactions section. Get medical help right away if any of these very serious side effects occur: slow/shallow breathing, unusual lightheadedness, severe drowsiness/dizziness, difficulty waking up.
Keep this medicine in a safe place to prevent theft, misuse, or abuse. If someone accidentally swallows this drug, get medical help right away.
The other ingredient in this medication, ibuprofen, may rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding from the stomach or intestines. Also, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including ibuprofen) may rarely increase the risk for a heart attack or stroke. This effect can happen at any time while taking this drug but is more likely if you take it for a long time. The risk may be greater in older adults or if you have heart disease or increased risk for heart disease (for example, due to smoking, family history of heart disease, or conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes). Do not take this drug right before or after heart bypass surgery (CABG). Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the benefits and risks of treatment, as well as other possible medication choices.
Stop taking this medication and get medical help right away if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: stomach/abdominal pain that doesn't go away, chest pain, severe dizziness, weakness on one side of the body, vision changes, trouble speaking, black stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds. (See also Precautions section.)
Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor(s) about the benefits and risks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. This medication may harm an unborn baby and cause problems with normal labor/delivery. It is not recommended for use in pregnancy from 20 weeks until delivery. If your doctor decides that you need to use this medication between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, you should use the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. You should not use this medication after 30 weeks of pregnancy. Babies born to mothers who use this drug for a long time may develop severe (possibly fatal) withdrawal symptoms. Tell the doctor right away if you notice any symptoms in your newborn baby such as crying that doesn't stop, slow/shallow breathing, irritability, shaking, vomiting, diarrhea, poor feeding, or difficulty gaining weight.
How to Use This Medication
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using this medication and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Take it with a full glass of water (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) unless your doctor directs you otherwise. Do not lie down for at least 10 minutes after taking this drug. You may take this drug with or without food. If you have nausea, it may help to take this drug with food. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to decrease nausea (such as lying down for 1 to 2 hours with as little head movement as possible).
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To reduce your risk of stomach bleeding and other side effects, take this medication at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Do not increase your dose, take the medication more often, or take it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed. The manufacturer recommends you take no more than 5 tablets in a 24-hour period.
Pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well. Also follow your doctor's or pharmacist's directions for the safe use of other non-opioid pain relievers (such as acetaminophen).
Suddenly stopping this medication may cause withdrawal, especially if you have used it for a long time or in high doses. To prevent withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly. Tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if you have any withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, mental/mood changes (including anxiety, trouble sleeping, thoughts of suicide), watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, muscle aches, or sudden changes in behavior.
When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.
Though it helps many people, this medication may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a mental/mood disorder or a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Take this medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Tell your doctor if your pain does not get better or if it gets worse, or if you have any new pain.